Let it Be

She scoots up to me, butt first, wanting to be held. I put my arms around her and she gives me a little sideways smile and wiggles. I pull her up onto my lap and feel her fuzzy head against my cheek. She smells like Goldfish crackers and a little bit like pee.

It’s almost four o’clock in the afternoon and we’re both still wearing pajamas. The snow has been gathering, swirling, drifting, relentlessly, all day. I’m really, really tired. A run of my tongue along my teeth tells me that I may not have remembered to brush them today, but I am wearing a bra, so at least there’s that. She woke up early from her nap and I wasn’t happy to hear the cries of “Mommy” after only an hour in her crib. The kids have been so intense lately and I just wanted to be left alone for a while.

But she didn’t.

She would rather be with me than be alone. She would rather sit in my lap to eat her Goldfish than sit at the table like a big girl. She would rather dance with me, read with me, sing with me, be with me than by herself.

So I wrap myself around her and we just breathe together for a few minutes. She leans her head into my chest to be as close to me as she can. She crunches her snack and drops crumbs into my shirt. I don’t care. Not right now. Right now is perfect. Right now, I love her more than I have ever loved her. I didn’t realize that was possible, but it’s happening, so I just let it be.

This is a small moment in an ordinary day. Very soon, the twins will be up or the phone will ring or I’ll have to make dinner or let the dogs out or switch over the laundry. And she won’t be content to snuggle quietly in my lap for very much longer either. She’ll suddenly decide that the toy truck in the corner has some urgent business in the next room, or that the basket full of toy food must be dumped with gleeful force onto the floor.

But this moment is good. I breathe her in. I kiss her cheek and squeeze her little tummy and admire her slippered feet. We’re together for this moment and nothing else matters.

The Beatles said, “there will be an answer, let it be.” I didn’t even know I was asking a question, but here she is in my lap, with her softness and sweetness and a big, silly grin, and she has the answer to everything. Let it be.

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Kim Staten

So true! My littlest one is almost three and she believes that we should still be permanently joined at the hip or lap or back. There are times that I think it would be great to just get ten minutes of touch-free time, but then her sweet little hands make me forget all about it!

ShakespearesMom

So often I’m busy doing stuff around the house or with my twin two-year-olds, so I try to remember to give the baby lots of snuggles and attention when she’s the only one up. Thanks for reading!

Renae Launderlife

Oh, I understand so many of these feelings. Way to step back and really appreciate the moment.

ShakespearesMom

Thanks! It really was just one of those rare moments where I was completely focused on her.

SiegMom

very touching story. I wish for moments like this with my older son who’s now 2. but it seems difficult because I have a two-month-old son to breastfeed and take care of. Am always wishing and hoping for time with my 2-year old

ShakespearesMom

Balancing your time among multiple kids is a huge challenge. Most days I don’t think I do it very well, but people tell me that it works itself out in the long run. Thanks for reading!

Norine Dworkin

I love these moments still with my almost 8-year-old. These days he’d rather snuggle with MY iPad than with me, but those moments when I get to hold him close and bury my face in his silky hair are golden. Such a beautiful moment, so beautifully told.

ShakespearesMom

I’m really glad to hear you say that while they may be few and far between, you still get snuggles with your 8-yr-old. I hope mine will snuggle me for years to come, too. Thanks for reading!

a happiergirl

So sweet! My kids are 8 and 12 and I miss the smell of Goldfish crackers and when my lap was the most comfy place to eat them!

ShakespearesMom

Thank you! If you want to smell Goldfish, just come within 50 feet of me or my kids anytime. I feel like it’s the only snack they ever want to eat these days, especially The Baby.

http://whisperingwriter.blogspot.com/ Amber

Aw! I always love when my kids want to snuggle with me.

ShakespearesMom

It’s just the best, isn’t it?

Tabitha

I love those moments where time seems to pause just long enough to snatch it up. -Tabitha

ShakespearesMom

Me too! Thanks for reading!

heidi

Those are the moments that make life special aren’t they?

ShakespearesMom

Absolutely. They make me forget about the crazy moments when I feel exhausted and overwhelmed, and remind me of how lucky I really am.

Falen

My youngest is nine and when she is sick and wants to cuddle – those moments. So sweet. Enjoy and soak up every second. Time flies too fast not to. 🙂 Visiting from “I Don’t Like Mondays” hop. Pleasure to meet you and read such sweet words.

Falen

ShakespearesMom

Thanks for reading! I’m so glad you stopped by.

http://submissivebydesign.com/ Sarah Thomas

What a touching story and intimate snapshot of the tender moments we treasure in our hearts as parents. It’s funny how little things can slip from our remembrance but moments like these remain cemented. My bundle recently turned twenty-three and I long to have another pattering around and burying themselves into my lap for a season. It all goes by so fast. 🙂

Sara

Such a beautiful story. Thank you for the glimpse into your life. 🙂

#SITSblogging

Rudri Patel @ Being Rudri

These ordinary moments hold the most magic. I love that you had the awareness to appreciate what was unfolding.

Sarah Kerner

I love this. I have such a bad habit of missing these moments because I’m worrying about the crumbs, or trying to “get something done”, or I’m still upset about some earlier misbehavior. I have to learn to soak in these moments while they’re happening.

http://mommygoeson.com/ Mommy Goes On

This is absolutely beautiful! I love the way you wrote this and it makes me miss those cuddles. Thank you for sharing. #SITSBlogging

Royal Proclaims

Oh, I love this! Thanks for the reminder!
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Follow me! (Or not. I have a terrible sense of direction so I would totally understand if you don’t want to. But it will probably be pretty fun! We can get into scrapes!)